The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-27
THE NEXT COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL.
Some Changes That Are to Occur Among the
Framers Of City Legislation.

When the new Council comes in the changes
in the committees will be of radical character
so far as the personnel and chairmanships are
concerned The decisive Republican majority
will permit this, whereas two years ago the ma
jority of one caused considerable deliberat.on in
adjusting matters to suit Democratic demands,
particularly in regard to officers and boards to
be selected by the joint convention of councimen
and aldermen where they could have caused
great trouble The tie in the Board of Alder
men gave them the power to stop all legislation
until their political wishes were met 1t was
their principal object to get absolute control of
the board of public improvements and the
special fire committee. OF the former Coy
wanted to be chairman with another of his ilk
to support him, and for the fire committee he had
Burns, of the Citizens Street Railroad Company,
IN view, with two other Democrats of his school.
1t was hoped that these two important depart
ments could be made to assist the Board of
Police Commissioners, then under Democratic
control, and that the Coy faction would
have everything its way in future
political movements. But beyond this Coy and
hlsfollowers demanded share in the chairman
ships of the committees, while in the Board of
Aldermen they complicated matters by threat
enlng to continue the contest for place unless
Ike King was elected president The five Re-
publicans could not elect Endley to that posi-
ton, nor could the five Democrats do anything
more for King. Caucus after caucus held
without any result until the Republicans pro-
posed to take the presidency Of the board and
give the other side the e-presidency and the
craftsmanship and majority on six committees.
The Democrats said they would accept that set
Element of the difficulty if the Republican presi-
dent would permit the Democratic vice-presi-
dent TO preside one half the time. They also in
sisted that the finance committee should have
chairman from their number. 1t might be
&c, IL
differences. it was intimated. if the Democrats
We're given majority in all the i'm
portant committees. compromise, how
ever, effected this latter plan, the
Republicans giving their opponents, besides the
finance committee, those markets. with
a butcher, Crosby for chairman. public light
and education, headed by King, railroads and
charities, with Laut at its head, streets and
alleys and water and public health the chair
men of which were to be Schmidt and Rail
spectively. This agreement was carried out
and has never been disturbed during the two
years of its existence. AT each meeting of the
board. when the proceedings are about half
through, one always count on Endley
changing seats with King, who for the rest of
the evening presides vice-president.
In Council the Democrats got the chairman
ship OF six committees and of one board, but to
their disgust majority of none. The agree
ment in the Board of Aldermen broke their
schemes in Council, result that was aided by
the Republicans electing John Rail, a Demo
crat, TO the presidency of the joint conventions.
Next year it is probable the Democratic council
men will have to give up all their chairmanships,
which will retire Coy from that on bridges and
Burns from ordinances. By Haugh Newland,
Mack and Edenharter retiring from the board.
the Democrats would lose any how, the chair
manships of printing, Office fixtures and supplies.
public health and public property. Assuming that
the councilmen reelected will retain their
present positions the committees. the great
est change will have to be made in that of
special fire OF the five, Cummings alone viii
remain. The finance committee has three mem
bers returned, Thalman. Pearson and Smith
Reinecke goes to the Board of Aldermen and
Howes retires On contracts. education, judi
ciary, public charities, railroads and streets and
alleys, as they are, only member from
each will be in the next Council. The market
committee must necessarily be a new one
throughout. Of the boards member of that
dispensary returned. The hospital board
retain two of its present members Swain
and Dunn, and the board of public improve
ments but one, McClelland. In the committees
of the aldermen the changes will be greater, as
only Laut, Wright and Rail are the members
turned.